Philippe Coutinho: Liverpool Playmaker Moves To Barcelona

Barcelona sign Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho in a £142m deal on Saturday.

The Brazilian will earn £12m a season and have a buyout clause of 400m euros (£355m) in his five-and-half year deal at the Nou Camp.

This makes Coutinho the 3rd most expensive transfer in football after the £200m move of Neymar from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain and the £165.7m cost of Kylian Mbappe's transfer from Monaco to PSG.

"In the next hours we will inform you of the details of the player's arrival and presentation," the Spanish club said in a statement.

Coutinho joined Liverpool from Inter Milan for £8.5m in January 2013 and has scored 54 goals in over 200 appearances.

Coutinho flew from London on Saturday night for his
dream move to Barcelona.

"It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July, when Barcelona first made their interest known," said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

"Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his team-mates this was a move he was desperate to make happen."

"It is with great reluctance that we - as a team and club - prepare to say farewell to a good friend, a wonderful person and a fantastic player in Coutinho.

Coutinho flew to Barcelona on Saturday and is expected to be at the match with Levante on Sunday.